Limb-straightening device



(No Model.) 2 Sheets8heet 1 J; H. ENTREKIN. LIMB STRAIGHTENING DEVICE.

No. 582,192. Patented May 11, 1897.

L- t 'ZL (No Model.) 28heets-Sheet2. J.- H. ENTRBKIN.

LIMB STRAIGHTBNING DEVICE. No. 582,192. Patented May 11,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

JOSEPH H. ENTREKIN, OF TEKAMAH, NEBRASKA.

LIMB STRAIGHTENING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OSEPH H. ENTREKIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tekamah, in the county of Burt and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Limb-Straightening Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for straightening crooked and bowed limbs; and it has for its general object to provide such a device adapted to be quickly and easily applied to a bowed or crooked limb and also adapted, when properly manipulated, to gradually straighten the same, and one which maybe used to advantage as a splint in case of fracture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved device. Fig.2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken in the plane indicated by the line :0 w of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar view taken in the plane indicated by the line 3 y of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a detail elevation illustrating the position which the fastening de vices are caused to assume when a flexible connection of the leg-plates is desirable.

In the said drawings similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of the views, referring to which- A indicates the sole-plate of my improved device, which is shaped to conform to the foot.

13 indicates one of the foot-plates, which is fixedly or rigidly connected to or formed integral with the sole-plate and is shaped to conform to the foot and is provided with ventilating-apertures a, as illustrated, and O indicates the other foot-plate, which is similar in shape and construction to the plate B, but is connected in a hinged or flexible manner to the sole-plate A, as indicated by b, for a purpose presently to be described.

The plate B is provided in its heel port-ion Patent No. 582,192, dated. May 11, 1897.

Serial No. 607,554. (No model.)

with a bolt 0 and a nut d, and the plate 0, which has its heel portion designed to lap the heel portion of the plate A, is provided with an inclined slot 6 to receive the bolt 0. In virtue of this construct-ion it will be observed that the foot-plate C may be adjustably fixed with respect to the foot-plate A by simply tightening the nut d, for a purpose which will hereinafter be made clear. The forward portions of the plates 13 and C may also be connected through the medium of the strap 01, when desired.

D and E indicate the lower and upper plates, which are designed to rest at the inner side of a limb and are slightly concavo-convex in cross-section in order to conform to the shape of the same. The lower plate D is pivotally connected by a rivet f or other suitable means to the foot-plate O, and the leg-plate E is in turn connected in a similar manner to the plate D, so as to enable the said plates to flex with respect to each other and the foot-plate O. The plate D is provided at about the point shown with a strap F, whichis preferably secured to said plate by being passed through slots therein and is provided at one end with a buckle g, and the plate E is provided at its opposite edges with buckles h, which are designed for the connection of the straps on the plates at the opposite side of the hub, as will presently appear.

G, H, and I indicate the plates which are designed to rest against the outer side of the limb to be straightened and are also of a concavo-convex form in cross-section to conform to the shape of the same. The lower of these plates is pivotall y or flexibly connected to the foot-plate B by a rivet or other suitable device, and the intermediate plate H is pivotally or flexibly connected by bolts or other devices 7' with the lower plate G and the upper plate I, as better shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The lower plate G is provided with a strap 76, designed to be connected with the strap F of plate D. The intermediate plate H is provided with straps m, designed to be connected with the buckles h of plate 6, and the upper plate I is provided with a fastening-strap 19, designed to be passed around the thigh of the wearer, and with a strap 0 for the connection of a suitable suspender (not illustrated) extending down from the shoulders of the wearer. The said plates G, H, and Iand also the plates A, B, O, D, and E are lined with flannel or other suitable soft material, so as to render them comfortable on the limb and prevent them from chafing the skin.

In using my improved device for straightening bowed or crooked limbs the straps con-v and E are moved inwardly as close to the outer plates 13, G, H, and I as the deformity of the limb will permit and are tightly connected with the same through the medium of. the straps and buckles described. The connection between the plates D E and the plates G H is tightened daily or at greater intervals, as is found necessary, until the limb is straightened, when the said plates D E and the plates G H will rest in an upright or approximately upright position and parallel, asshown in Fig. 2. As theconnection between the plates D E and the plates G H is tightened the footplate 0 is moved toward the plate B, and therefore it will be seen that it is necessary before each tightening operation to loosen the nut d, and it is also necessary after the tight ening operation to screw said nut tight, so as to fix the plate 0 with respect to the plate 13 and enable it to assist in the straightening operation.

while in others it is desirable, on account of weakness of such-joints, to hold the leg stiff and prevent flexing thereof. I"have therefore provided the fastening devices M, which are designed when in the position shown in Fig. 1 to prevent flexing of the outside plates G, H, and I and when in the position shown in Fig. 6 to permit flexing of the said plates. These fastening devices M may be of any suitable construction, but I prefer to form them respectively from a single piece of resilient or spring wire, as better shown in Fig. 1.

In forming the devices M, I take a piece of resilient wire of suitable length and caliber and bend it so as to form an eye t at its middie for the reception of the connecting pin or the said apertures or sockets w, as shown in Fig. 1, it will be readily perceived that the plates G and I will be securely held rigid with respect to the plate H. When, however, the branches to are withdrawn from the sockets son of the resiliency of .saidarms, spring inwardly or toward each other to the position shown in Fig. 6 and remain in such position, so as to render the connection between the plates G, H, and I flexible.

"When the. plates G, H, and I are rigidly connected together, it will be readily perceived that the device may be used to advantage as a splint in cases of fractured limbs.

Means other than straps and buckles may be used for connecting the inner plates with the outer plates, and I therefore do not desire to be understood as confining myself to the use of straps for effecting such connection. I also do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the construction illustrated, as such changes or modifications may be made in practice as fairly fall within the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The limb-straightening device described comprising the sole-plate, the foot-plate rigidly and fixedly connected to the sole-plate, the foot-plate connected in a hinged or flexible manner to the sole-plate, leg-plates connected to the foot-plates and adapted to rest on opposite sides of a leg, and a suitable means for connecting said leg-plates, substantially as specified.

2. The limb-straightenin g device described comprising the sole-plate, the foot-plate fixedly and rigidly connected to the soleplate, the nut mounted on a bolt connected to said foot -plate', the foot plate connected in a hinged or flexible manner to thesole-plate and adapted to lap the heel portion of the fixedly-connected foot-plate and having a slot adapted to receive the bolt thereof, leg-plates connected to the'foot-plates and adapted to rest on opposite sides of a leg, and a suitable means for connecting said leg-plates, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The limb-straightenin g device described comprising the foot-plates, a plate connected to one of said foot-plates and adapted to rest on one side of a limb, a plate G, connected to the other-foot-plate and adapted to rest on the opposite side of the limb, a second plate H, connected in a' hinged or flexible manner to the plate G,-and having oppositely-arranged sockets as, and the fastening device connected to the plate G, and having resilient arms provided with branchesadapted to take into the sockets as, of plate H, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aifix my-signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH II. EN REKIN.

lVitnesses:

O. H. RAEDER, '1. E. TURPIN. 

